Flushing apparatus.



.BEBE

W. F. FLUSHiNG FPETS.

[Application led Dec. 31, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet m. www.

(No Model() MWHT UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. HASTINGS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 653,005, dated July 3,1900.

Application filed December .31,

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. HAsTINGs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county ofNew York and State of N ewYork, have invented a new and useful FlushingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a flushing apparatus for water-closets, and hasfor one object to provide a simple, compact, and efficient constructionand arrangement of parts whereby the flushing of the bowl may becontrolled by the depression of the seat or intermittently duringthe-occupation of the seat or at lintervals continuously, according tothe adjustment of the parts to suit the conditions under which theapparatus is used.

A particular object of my invention is to' provide improved means formaking or completing'lthe Siphon action whereby the same may beaccomplished with certainty and promptness when a certain relationexists between the parts of the mechanism.

A further particular object of my'invention is to provide an improvedinlet-valve mechanismand restraining devices for the float whereby theeicient siphonic discharge o f the contents of the tank or reservoir maybe accomplished. l

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed f out in the I appended claims. i l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, of a flushingapparatus construct-- ed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is adetail sectionalview of the faucet or inlet-valve mechanism, showing thedepressed or restrained position of the valve and' oatstem. Fig. -3 is asimilar view showing the leaking or intermittent valve arranged inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a detail View in .perspective of theleaking or intermittent Fig. 6 is a similar 1898. SerialNo.700,8Z0. (Nomodel.)

ing-rod and the valve-stem adapted for use in connection with theintermittent or leaking valve. Similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlugs.

1.0 designates a tank, and 1l a supply-pipe for conveyingwater thereto,said tank being fitted with a depressed cover 12, which' is securely,but removably, fastened to the walls of the tank to prevent leakage ofWater and which is provided in alinement preferably with the supply-pipewith a well 13, forming an upward extension of the interior of the tankfor the reception ot' a oat 14, said oat fit-ti-ng-looselyin the well(which forms aguide therefor) to allow water which is risingto the planeof thelower side of the cover 12 to pass between the side surfaces ofthe float and the walls of the well, The upper end of the well 13 isopen and is spanned bya cross-bar 1,5, forming a trip, and thevalve-stem 16, to whichthe float is attached, extends upward through aguide-opening in the center of -said cross-bar and is fitted with acatch-block 17. This catch-block is shouldered, as shown at 18, near itsupper end for engagement bya latch 19, fulcru med upon a cross-head 20,said latch vhaving side plates 2l, which are pivotally mounted uponopposite sides of the crosshead 2O by means of a screw or bolt 22 and anintermediate core-plate 23, which isradapted at itsffront end to engagethe shoulder 18 of the catch-block, while the extremities of the sideplates or cheeks 21 extendforward in advance of said extremity of thecore-plate to operate upon opposite sides of the plane of thecatch-block. The cross-head 2O also carries a latch-operating spring 24,which bears `upward against the tail of the latch, consist- 23, toyieldingly hold the latch in operative relation with the shoulder ofthe'catch-block,I the rear end of said spring being coiled around orotherwise secured to the cross-head and extending forward betweenlateral guides 25, formed, respectively, by the head of the bolt of saidbolt to prevent lateral deflection of the spring.

The cross-head 20 is carried by al1 operating-rod 27, which extendsthrough the cyc 28 ing of a rearward extension of the core-plate 26 anda washer secured in place by the nut` IOO of said cross-head, and isthreaded foren gagement by upper and lower adjusting-nuts 29 and30,arranged in contact with the upper and lower sides, respectively, ofsaid eye. As the operating-rod descends the latch by contact with theshoulder 18 depresses the valve-stem 16 and thefloat 14, which issecured thereto, until a cam-face 31 on said latch comes in contact withthe trip 15, whereupon the latch is thrown rearward at its free end torelease the shoulder 18, and the valve-stem and llo'at are free to riseindependently of the latch, and hence of the operating-rod. The returnof the operating-rod' toits normal or elevated position causes therengagement of the latch with the shoulder 18 in preparation for asucceedin g depression of the valve-stem as above explained. Theoperating-rod 27 is preferably arranged in rear of the tank l or in anyother convenient position with relation to the apparatus and extends ata suitable point through a tubular guide 32,in which is incased aboveindicated; butin the'constrnction illus-.

through a guide-eye 39'and said a return-spring 33, coiled upon the rod.One end of this spring-namely,the lower endbears upon the lowerpartly-closedend of the guide or upon fixed inturned flanges 34, withwhich the lower end of said guide is provided,

and besrsat its upper end against an adjustable collar 35, threaded uponthe rod, the tension of said spring being adj ustable by means of saidcollar and the exterior diameter of the collar being such as to fitsnugly inthe bore of the guide 32 to insure the accurate reeiproeatorymovement of the rod without lateral vibration or displacement. Alsotolimit the upward movement of the operating-rod under the tension of thereturn-spring '331 employ a suitable stop 36, consisting, in theconstruction illustrated, of a transverse pin fitted iu the rod andadaptedto come in contact with the 'lower end of thegnide.

Various means may be employed in depressing the operating-rod to actuatethe float, as

trated these operating means consist of a lever 37, engaged at oneextremity with an eye 38 at the lower end of the operating-rod 27, said'rod adjacent to the eye 38 extending an upright or snpport 40, uponwhich the other extremity of lever is fulcrumcd, the lever beingprovided at an intermediate point with a bearing 41, adapted to receivethe downward pressure of the closet-seat 42, said lever being arrangedto extend forward at one side of the bowl 43. This bearing in theconstruction illustrated consists of a head 44, provided with a stem 45,which is threaded or otherwise adjustably mounted upon the lever toprovide for varying the position of the bearing withy relation to thelever, and hence the stroke of the lever or the amplitude of itsmovement when actuated by the depression of the seat. Also to facilitatedisengagement of the lever from the support or upright 40 the former isprovided at its fulcrumed end with a transverse slot 46 to engage atranstrap-arm.

verse fulcrum pin or bolt 47, arranged in a bifurcation of saidupright-40. Also the npright may be suitably braced, as by atruncoconical thimble 48, and may be threaded or otherwise firmlysecured at its extremity in the oor.

Communicating tank is a` sphon havingan inlet or short leg 49, of whichthe inlet end is located near the floor or bottom of the tank, and anoutlet or long leg'O, communicating with a flush-pipe 5 l, designed toconvey the contents of the tank to the interior of the bowl. interposed,however, between theoutlet or long leg of the siphon and the flush-pipeis'a trap-arm '52, the

body portion of which is located approximately in a horizontal plane undwhich is provided near its poi-'nt o! connection with the flush-pipewith an upwardly bowedorde'llectedv gooseneck 53, the lower side of thisdeflected or gooseneck portion interiorly in the plane, approximately,of the interior of the upper wall ofthe body portion of the In practicethe lower side of the gooseneck portion at the pointuI (or at the mestelevated point of Vsaid lower. side) is arranged slightly below thehorizontal plane of the interior of the upper side of the body portionof the trap-arm, at the point b, to allow a channel of smallcrossfsectional area through which air may escape from the interior ofAthe tank and thelegs of the sphon to the flush-pipe during the fillingof the-tank or during the rise of the water therein, the waterlevel ordead-water line inthe trap-arm being indicatedin Fig. l. Also inpractice I prefer to dispose the elbow 54, by which the legs of thesphon are connected, in a cavity55 in the cap 'or cover 12 of the tank,wberebythe lower side of the interior of said elbow is slightly abovethe plane of the under surface of said cap or IOO cover. 'lhe object ofthis specific arrangc- Y ment of parts is to secure aprompt andeffectual making or completingof thesiphon action when, the tank beingfull tothe plane of the under side of the cap or cover,acomparatively-small additional quantity of water is admitted to thetank. For instance, with the level of the water in the tank in the planeof the inner, surface ofthe cap or cover, and hence filling the short orinlet leg of the siphou almost to the plane of the under side of theelbow 54, as indicated in Fig. l, the sudden admission into the tank ofcomparatively-small vadditional quantity of water, together withdisplacement by the depression of the float, will carry the level in theleg 49 over the point c and discharge it into the long leg 50 of thesphon, thus channel or space at the point b in the traparm and at oncemaking or completing the sphon, whereupon the contents ofthe tank willbe drawn out through the flush-pipe.

The communication of' the supply-pipe ll with the interior of the tankis controlled by a supply-valve carried by the stem 16 and arranged tooperate in connection with a valve- IXO closing the small seat 56. Inthe construction illustrated in Fig. 1 the valve 57 is normally heldseated by means of the float 14 when the tank is full, and carried bythe valve-stem below the plane of the valve is a restraining disk orpiston 58 to fit in a cylindrical receptacle 59 when the valve isunseated or depressed, the function of the coperating parts 58 and 59being somewhat similar to that of adash-pot in that upon the depressionof the valve said piston 58 by entering the receptacle 59 opposes themovement of the valve sufficiently to prevent jar, and after the valveis fully depressed the upward movement thereof is resisted by thecontents of the valve-chamber 60 and the float is prevented fromimmediately raising the valve (upon the disengagement of the latch 19from the catch-block) to reseat the valve. The piston 58 is providedwith peripheral reliefnotches 61, which allow the depression of thepiston into the receptacle 59 and which also allow the withdrawal ofsaid piston therefrom; but owing` to the small area of .saidrelief-notches the motion in either direction of the piston is retarded.The 4dashlpot or receptacle 59 is slightly flared at its upper edge tofacilitate the introduction of the piston 58 and is closed at its lowerend by a partition 62, which serves to separate the interior of thedash-pot from the inlet-nozzle 63, which is in communication with thesupply-pipe 1l. A coupling or union 6i is employed to connect the supply-pipe 11 with the nozzle 63 and also secure in place the lower endof the valvecasing 60, said union having an angular exterior wrench-seatand Vheilig provided with right and letthand interior and exteriorscrewthreads G5 and 66 to engage the corresponding threaded portions,respectively, of the supply-pipe 1l, the easing 60, and also the lowerend of the nozzle 63. This coupling or union may be turned to disengagethe' supply-pipe from the casing and allow theremoval of the nozzle toremove obstructions, as accumulations of dirt, fromv the strainingmediums 67, arranged in outlet -openings formed laterally in the nozzle.

'lhe upper end ot the valve-casing 60 is flanged, as shown at 68, tobear upon the inner surface of the iioor or bottom of the tank, suitable nuts 69 being threaded exteriorly upon the casing to bear againstthe outer surface of said bottoni, the threaded portion ol' the casingbeing enlarged, as shown, to avoid the necessity ol' threading said nutsthroughout the length thereof, and the valve-seat block 7U is threadedinto the upper end ol the easing and is counter-bored in communicationwith the passage 7l to term the above-described valveseat 5H, which iset' trittico-conical construction. 'lhe valve 5;?, `which may be et'rubber or similar yielding material, is also approximately et'trittico-conical construction, but is (.llipt-i'eally rtunided at its surtaee to cause the snug seatingthereo without bringing sittlicientsurfare into contact withthe valve-seat lo canse the sticking thereof',and thus interfere with the prompt unseating, of the same when the rod16 is .depressed by the means hereinbefore described. To guide the lowerend of the valve-stem 16 adjacent to the plane of the valve, I employ aspider 72, of which the arms may be formedintegral with 'or secured tothe valve-seat block 70, said spider being provided at its center with asuitable guide-opening through which the valve-stem 16 extends. Alsosaid spider serves to support an inverted approximately-semisphericaldetlect'or 73, held in place by a nut 7i, threaded upon the nipple 75,which is arranged at the center of the spider, around the guide-.openingtherein. Also a cushion 76 is arranged upon said n'ut in the path of thedownward movement of the lower end of the float to prevent jar andinjury to the parts when the valve is unseated.

With the parts arranged as described the depression of the closet-seatserves to correspondingly' actuate the operating-rod 27 through themedium of the lever 37, which is of the-third order, and this downwardmovement of the operating-rod communicates a corresponding movement tothe valve-stem to unseat the valve 57 and depress the tioat 14. When theparts-reach the limit of their downward movement, the piston 58 havingentered the dash-pot orreeeptacle 59 'the latch 19 is tripped from thecatch-block to release the valve. The immediate return of the float toits elevated position due to the buoyant etect of thewater is prevented,however, by the resistance otfered to the piston by the contents of thevalve-casing. The unseating of the valve is accompanied by an influxinto the tank of a quantity of water sutiicient to complete the Siphon,and hence before the piston 58 can be withdrawn from the dash-pot orreceptacle 59 the level of the water in the tank has been lowered by thefiow through the siphon sufficiently to prevent the rise of the tloat toan elevation to seat the valve; Therefore the Water flows through thesiphon until the tank is empty and the Siphon broken, whereupon thefilling of the tank by the inflow through the supply-pipe 11 isaecomplishedV as in the ordinary practice. As. .the

the valve57 into contact with the scat to cut otl flirt-lier Supply.

When an intermittent operation of the tl usher is desired during theoccupation of the seat', a partial depression of the lever 37 isell'eeted (ily the downward adjustment of the bearing-pointetlsutlieient to unseat the valve 57 without bringing the latch intoengagement with the trip l5 to disengage the tloatrod or valve-stem.llence when the seat is depressed, the tank being full, the operationwill be the saine as liereinbet'orc describe-(l, with the exception thatthe ileat will not be released, and therefore the valve will ,remainunseated. At'ter the contents ot' the tank have been .diseli.ugedthrough the tlushlevel of the water in the tank rises theiloat Liscorrespondingly moved and finally brings-l IOO IOS l IIO pipe andthesiphon has been broken the tank will refill through the supply-pipe toagain complete the siphon, when without further manipulation of theparts the contents-ot` the tank will again be siphoned out, and so oncontinuously during the occupation of the closet-seat.

When a continuous intermittent operation of the usher is desired,whether the seat is occupied or not, I employ an intermittent or leakingvalve 77, substituted for the valve 57, having a tapered lower end andperipheral notches, grooves, or ways 78 to allow the gradual or slowfilling of the tank. This valve is located normally in the port 71 toallow a slow or gradual admission of water to the tank, and obviouslywhen the tank fillsvto the proper level to charge theascending or inletarm of the Siphon, and thus cause an overlow into the descending armf50,the siphon will be started and the tank emptied, and this operation willbe repeated at intervals as long as the leaking valve is in use. Whenthe seat 42 is depressed, tocorrespondingly depress the operating-rod 27a downward movement is communicated to the valvestem 16,tl1erebydepressing the leaking valve 77 to fully open the port 71, and henceduring the occupation of the seat the siphon opl crates intermittently,but at much shorter intervals than when the valve is seated in the port71. When the valve 77 is depressed, it carries with it the plunger 58,at the lower end of the valve-rod, into the dash-pot 59,

whereby upon the release of the seat the up ward movement of thevalve-rod is retarded to allow a gradual seating of the valve 77, andthus avoid jar or hammer in the apparatus.

A form of clutch connection between the operating-rod and the valve-rodin place of that already described, which may be employed in connectionwith the intermittent valve, is illustrated in Fig. 7, and consists of across-arm 20, secured at the desired adjnstment upon the operating-rodby means' of upper and lower nuts 29 and 30", the other end of said armbeing bifurcated, as shown at 19, to embrace the clutch-block 17,whichis provided with atransverse terminally-exposed pin 23 for engagementbysaid extremity of the arm. Also the shoulder or stop 18 is arranged inthe path of the downward movement of the cross-arm. IIence when theoperating-rod is depressed in opposition to its actuating-spring thebifurcated end of the arm 20 is depressed into contact with `theshoulder 18, and thus carries the valve-rod down, with the float, towithdraw the leaking or intermittent valve from its seat in the port 71.Upon the release of the seat the operating-rod rises to bring thebifurcated end of the arm 2O into contact with the pin 23, and thusexert an upwardstrain upon the valve-rod, to reseat the valve 77 inopposition to the resistance offered by the dash-pot.

An important feature ot the construction described resides in the factthat the elbow Vthat the tank is filling; 4this vsaid defleetor servesto prevent the up- 54, by which the short and long legs of the siphonare connected, is above the normal level of the water in the tank andthat the level is raised to complete the siphon action by the suddeninflux of water, due to a change of position in the valve. Moreover, theeicient operation of the siphon is due tothe use of the trap-arm' 52,which is interposed .between the long or discharge leg of the siphon andthe flush-pipe, wherein a sufficient quantity of dead-water is retainedto almost fill the cross-sectional area of the arm, while allowing afree eillux of airfrom the interior of the tank, but whereby acomparatively-slight discharge of water from the Siphon into said armfills the open space, and thus completes the siphon. This preventsleakage or the rcpeated partial discharges which would be the resultwithout the use of the trap-arm or an e uivaleut feature ofconstruction.

"he function of the defiector 73, of which the lower edge is permanentlybelow the level of the water in the tank, even when the latter is empty,is to prevent the sound of water entering the tank when the valve 57 isunseated. As the discharge into the tank from the supply-pipe is upward,it is obvious that withouta deflector or means for turning the waterdownward as it leaves the supply-pipe there would be the sound offalling water, due to the upward spouting of the, same during the timebut in addition to ward ow of the water from the supply-pipe fromatfeeting-the position of the float. It is obvious that this upwardtendency of the water if allowed free access to the lower end of thefloat would raise the latter prematurely, and thus seat the valve beforethe water in the tank reaches its normal level at the lower side of thecap or cover 12. It will be seen, furthermore, that in order to preventthe premature seating of the valve 57 it is arranged in a receptacle,which l have termed a dashpot, located out of the direct path of thewater passing from the supply-pipe to the tank, and this location of thevalve, together with the peripherally-notched construction of the pistonor plunger 58, serves to restrain the valve and prevent the seatingthereof until the water in the tank reaches its normal level.

It will be understood that in practicevari.- ous changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

Having described my invention, what l claim is 1. In a flushingapparatus, the combination with a tank and a dischargepipe, ot' avalvecasing having a valve-seat, a dash-pot isolated within the casing,and spaced from said scat, a float-operated valve, and a separate pistoucarried by the valve-stem, and movable into and entirely out of thedash-pot, said piston being provided with relief-ports, substantially asset forth.

IIO

rnccted with the stein 2. In a liushing apparatus, the combination.

with the tank and a discharge-pipe, of a valve- Acasing hav-ing avalve-seat, a da'shpot isolated within the casing, and spaced from saidseat, a float-operated valve working into the valveseat and providedwith a plurality of leak-passages, and a separate piston carried by thevalve-stem, and movable into and entirely out of the dash-pot,substantially as set forth.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank and adischarge-pipe, of a oatoperated supply-valve, a reciprocatory mem-4 bercarrying a pivotal latch having a catch engagement with the xvalve-stem,and a fixed trip arranged below and in the path of the latch to providefor disengaging the same from the valve-stem by a continued down'- wardmovement of the reci procatory member, substantially as set forth.l

4. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, adischarge-Siphon, and a floatoperated valve, of areciprocatory,operatingrod, a pivotal latch carried by the operating-yrod, and adapted to engage with the valvestem, said latch being providedwith a camface, and a Iixed guide receiving the upper end of thevalve-stem, and arranged in the path of the cam-face of the latch toconstitute a tri`p therefor, substantially as set forth.

5. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank having adischarge-Siphon, and a float-operated supply-valve, of anoperating-rod, means for reciprocating the same by thc movement of aWater-closet seat, a crosshead carried by said rod, a pivotal latchcarried by the cross-head for 'engagement with a catch on theValve-stem, and a fixed trip arranged below and in the path of saidlatch to provide for disengagin g the latter bya continued downwardmovement of the operatingrod, substantially as specified.

6. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank having adischarge-Siphon, and a iloat-operated supply-valve, of anoperating-rod, means for reciprocating the same by the movement of a'water-closet seat, a crosshead on said operating-rod, a pivotalyielding latch carried by the cross-head@ catch-block connected with thefloat-,operated valve, and a fixed trip arranged below andy in the pathof the latch to provide for disengaging the latter by the continueddownward movement of the operating-rod, substantially as specified.

7. .In a lushing apparatus, the combination with a tank having adischarge-Siphon, and a float-operated suppl -valve, of anoperating-rod, means for reciprocating the same by the movement of awater-closet seat, va crosshead adjustably mounted upon saidoperating-rod, a latch' vcarried by the crosshead, a pivotal catch-blockoperatively conof the float-operated valve, and a fixed trip arrangedAbelow and in the path of said latch to provide for disengaging thelatter by the continued downward movement of the operating-rod,substantially as-spccitied.

'valve,f and a 8. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tankhaving a discharge-Siphon, and a float-operated supply-valve, of a leveradapted for actuation by a water-closet seat, .a reciprocatorycross-head operatively connected with said lever, a pivotal latchcarried by the cross-head, a shouldered catchblock operatively connectedwith the stem of said float-operated valve, an actuating-spring for saidlatch, the latter being provided with a cam-face, and a fixed triparranged below and in the' path of said cam-face of the latch to providefor disengaging thelatter by the continued downward movement of saidcrosshead, substantially as specified.

9. In a-ushing apparatus, the combination with a tank having adischarge-Siphon, and a oatoperated su pplyvalve, of a lever adapted foractuation by a water-closet seat, a cross-head operatively connectedwith said lever, a pivotal latch carried by the crosshead and providedwith a rearwardlyextending tail portion, a spring carried by thecross-head 'and arranged in operative relation with the tail portion ofthe latch, guideears arranged at opposite sides of the plane of thespring, a catch-block operatively connected with the stem of thefloat-operated fixed trip arranged below and in the path of the latch,substantially as specified.

10. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a'nupstanding siphon arranged wholly inside of the tank, a lushing-pipehaving an appro'ximately-horizontal trap-arm arranged wholly exterior tothe tank and in communication 'with the discharge-leg of the interiorSiphon, said approximately-horizontal trap-arm being provided with anelevated gooseneck adjacent to its junction with the flushing-pipe, ofwhich elevated gooseneck the lower side is approximately in the plane ofthe upper side of the body portion of the trap-arm, and a float-operatedintermittent valve associated with the water-inlet as set forth.

11. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a tank and adischarge-pipe, of a valve-casing having a valve-seat, a' dash-potisolated within the casing and spaced from said seat, a float-operatedvalve, a separate piston carried by the valve-stem and provided withreliefports,isaid piston being movable into and entirely out of thedash-pot, a reciprocatory member, means controlled Iby the closet-seatfor actuating said member, and a clutchconnection between thereciprocatory member and the stem of the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM I. 'HAs'rINGs Witnesses:

WILLIAM. F. LAWSON, JOHN RUTz, Jr.

port for'the tank, substantially IOO IIO

